Vermont holds a very special place in my heart. Vermont was the first New England State that I visited; in fact, my husband and I went there on our honeymoon. We return every year for our anniversary, regardless of how many times we may have been there during the year.

There’s many other reasons why I love the Green Mountain State, too many to list. So here are just a few of my favorite things about Vermont.

Vermont Cheese

I love cheese anyway, but some of the best comes from Vermont. I took a cheese tour several years ago – it was a great way to explore the state! From Cabot Cheese in Cabot to Vermont Shepherd Cheese in Putney to Taylor Farm in Londonderry and all the cheese makers in between – Vermont cheese is an art form.

To read more about Vermont cheese, see these articles:
Vermont Cheese Trail.
A New Pairing - Vermont Wine and Cheese.

Vermont Farmers

Where else can you stop to ask directions and end up talking for an hour? My husband and I pulled into a farm in southern Vermont to ask about an alternative route due to accident that was blocking traffic. A farmer was coming in from the field, and we chatted about another route (there wasn’t one), the cost of milk, the economics of farming, his grandson, and the maple syrup biz. All this as the grandson played in the yard and a tired-looking dog looked on from the cab of an old truck.

We treasure that conversation to this day, and whenever we go by that farm, we stop and stock up on maple syrup.

The Northeast Kingdom

I love the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont’s north-east corner. Author Andrew Nemethy said of this area, "It’s a region of sparse settlement and aching beauty, of pockets of poverty and of pride, of deep lakes and true wilderness."

It’s also a region of distinct variety. Burke Mountain Ski Area, and Stepping Stone Spa are both in the Northeast Kingdom. But there are also small towns like Danville and Irasburg that beg to explored. And in Derby Line, the border between the U.S. and Canada runs right through the town, and in some cases, right through people’s homes. I crossed over into Canada through Derby Line years ago by accident, and when I returned, had to explain to the border patrol why I was in Canada. (I assume that crossing the border now by accident would be much tougher.)



Vermont People

A friend of mine decided to go to Vermont at the last minute, on a Friday afternoon during Foliage season. He and his brother hit Bennington about 5 p.m. and drove all over, getting photos. After it got dark, they went to get a room. You guessed it – everything was booked! Finally, a kindly motel owner took pity on them and called a friend who lived alone in a large house. She agreed to let them stay, and they spent the night in a beautiful and comfortable room.

In the morning, she made them a hearty homemade breakfast. When they asked what they owed her, she said, "I don’t know. How is $25?" She was worried about over-charging them!

Do you love Vermont? Stop in at our forum and tell us why!